ALAN Pardew thinks the pressure on Chelsea could play into the hands of his Newcastle United side today, but fears their wounded pride will make them a more dangerous prospect.

The Magpies entertain André Villas-Boas’ men in today’s televised lunchtime kick-off at St James Park. A point and a place above the visitors, many have them as the favourites against opponents who have lost five of their last nine matches in all competitions. Pardew thinks it could have a bearing on Chelsea’s approach.

He said: “I just think Chelsea’s results, with the stature of players they have and the games they have coming up, this will be a game they will look to win.

“They will have that attitude. I saw them on Tuesday night (when they were knocked out of the League Cup by Liverpool) and there is a feeling there they need to kick on. I could sense there are people there who know they have to put this right.

“Most of the big hitters will be hoping to put it right when they come up to us.

“I don’t think André Villas-Boas has been under this sort of pressure and it is at times like this the players either stand by you or they do not. The nature of the players and the manager, I am sure they will.”

The 34-year-old Portuguese will have to hope he is right. Chelsea’s senior players have seen off more than one manager they did not see eye-to-eye with.

A Newcastle victory will almost certainly prompt more headlines about Villas-Boas suffering the same fate as the likes of Luiz Felipe Scolari but, in the week Sunderland’s Steve Bruce became the first Premier League manager to lose his job, Pardew does not think that will be the case.

“You are talking about a different pressure here in England with the Press and I don’t think he has experienced anything like it before in Portugal,” reflected Pardew. “The intensity of the media makes it very difficult.

“I can see what he is trying to do, he is trying to put more energy into the side.